These plans are popular for a reason—when you’re investing in a supplement plan, you probably want one that’s going to cover everything you may possibly need or want in the future. But, with more coverage comes a bigger price tag.

Compare, for instance, the lowest-coverage option, plan A:

• Part A Coinsurance & Hospital Costs
• Part B Coinsurance or Copayment
• First 3 Pints of Blood for Transfusions
• Part A Hospice Care Coinsurance or Copayment

This plan roughly covers half of what’s included in plans F and G. Less benefits, however, means less money. Oftentimes, however, you get the most bang-for-your-buck from a higher coverage option if you enroll early on with a good rating system.

There are 3 ways insurance companies typically set the price of your supplement plan—community, issue-age, and attained-age rating. Community ratings are set at a basic standard for all beneficiaries, so you know the exact price you’re getting and how it will last over time.

Issue-age rating is based on your age at the time of enrollment. So, a 65-year-old new enrollee will pay less than a 75-year-old. This system is typically used when the individual has missed their supplement open enrollment.

Finally, the attained-age rating changes with you. So, every year you have the plan, your premium will increase, typically by just a few dollars.

So, if you get a good rating, the cost should be more than reasonable, and well-worth the extra coverage.